About this Project
Who we are
As a global organization, Purpose creates impactful campaigns that transform narratives, mobilize audiences, and support ecosystem-level change to address today’s most crucial issues. This site draws upon insights from a Purpose-led project, The Voices for Economic Opportunity Incubator, which supported innovation for narrative change and social impact.
In 2019, the Voices for Economic Opportunity Grand Challenge was launched to “establish ways to offer alternatives to confusing, conflicting, and just plain inaccurate accounts about what poverty is, why it happens, to whom it happens, and how to address it.” This Challenge sought organizations with creative concepts “to elevate diverse voices and broaden the national conversation about poverty and economic mobility” through “the actual stories of those that experience poverty—in a way that represents the core factors and challenges.” With the understanding that equitable access to opportunity is not possible until misconceptions, racial bias, and racism are addressed, the Challenge encouraged action guided by shared values, history, systemic solutions, racial equity and human dignity.
Ultimately, 28 organizations were awarded $100,000 each to produce a narrative change project that generates awareness of the structural and historic barriers to mobility, changes the predominant misconceptions about poverty, and promotes actionable understanding leading to effective programs and policies that address poverty issues. To support these organizations, Purpose designed and implemented the Voices for Economic Opportunity Incubator.
Key partners of the Challenge and the Voices Incubator included the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation, the Omidyar Network, the Raikes Foundation, the Schultz Family Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.
*Views and opinions expressed in this content are that of Purpose and do not reflect the opinions of partners.
It takes a community
Narrative change means playing the long game, which is why the strategies shared here can be applied to existing projects, help you get started on a new one, or even help supporters and funders understand what it takes to accomplish narrative change. No matter which phase you’re in, these additional resources can help you build a broad coalition to inspire and strengthen your work.
Additional resources
The following organizations are doing tremendous, impactful work around narrative change. Learn more from their insights, tools, and best practices.
Guides to persuasive messaging, including a unifying Race Class Narrative
An evolving (and incomplete) guide to inclusive language
A tool for understanding 4 key values-based audiences, their narratives and media behaviors
Resources and toolkits on economic mobility, immigrants and opportunity, and criminal justice
Guide for monitoring narrative change for funders and practitioners
Lessons and tools for activists to bring about progressive narrative change
